Boat.



L. L. McGEE.

BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1916.

Patented July 3, 1917.

L-MCGEE.

Z SHEETSSHEET I.

L. L. McGEE.

BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. I916.

LQMMMD Patented July 3, 1917 w 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. Q2 93 g" L cm I\ @Q HLHS Y r R 5 H a 2 awue/Moz' LEONHRD L. MCGEE TINTTED STATEg PATENT @FFTCE.

LEONARD L. MGGEE, OF NEAR ALBANY, OREGON.

BOAT.

Application filed November 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD L. MGGEE, a citizen of the United States, residing near Albany, in the county of Benton and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in boats and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character of a foldable or collapsible type; and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved boat of this character which, when folded or collapsed, occupies a minimum of space and which may be readily and conveniently extended into operative position.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved boat whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use,

all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. i

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top plan of a boat constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in extended ad justment;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the device as disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4: of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a view in top plan of my improved boat in a folded adjustment, the covering being omitted for clarity in disclosure.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, FF denote side frames comprised in my improved boat and each of which includes the longitudinally disposed parallel flexible strips 1 tied or connected at predetermined intervals by the ribs or posts 2, while the forward ends of said strips 1 are connected by the suitably inclined head piece 3.

Specification of Letters Patent.

rarest-ea July 3, mm.

Serial No. 129,550.

The rear faces of the head pieces 3 are hingedly connected one with the other, as indicated at 4, and coacting with certain of the posts or ribs 2 are the cross stays or members S. Each of the stays or members S comprises two sections preferably of equal length and having the under portion of their meeting ends hingedly connected one to the other, as at 5, so that when the side frames F are moved inwardly the hingedly connected ends of said sections will swing upwardly as the outer ends of the member or stay are pivotally connected, with certain of the ribs or posts 2.

The corresponding sections of the stays or members 8 have their inner ends tied or connected by the strips 6 disposed longitudinally of the boat and whereby the sections of the stays or members S will be caused to move into an extended or into a folded position substantially in unison.

Overlying the outer faces of the frames F is a fabric 7 of suitable water-proof ma terial and which is provided with a free intermediate portion 8 directed to form the bottom of the boat when the same is in an extended or operative adjustment, and when the boat is collapsed or folded, it is preferred that the free or bottom portion of said fabric pass upwardly between the sections of the stays or members S. The fabric 7 is also caused to bridge the space between the rear ribs or posts 2 of the frames F, as indicated at 9, and is also extended around the forwa'lrd edges of the head pieces 3 so as to afford a pocket into which the head or bow strip 10 is adapted to be removably inserted. When the boat is to be folded or collapsed it is to be understood that the head or bow strip 10' must be removed. In order to prevent said head or bow strip from becoming misplaced I find it of advantage to affix thereto the flexible member 11 of pre determined length and which'is also suitably anchored to one of the frames F.

The u per strips of the frames F substantially midway the length thereof are provided with the longitudinally disposed openend grooves 12 adapted to receive the extremities of the brace member 14: which, when applied, serves as a means to hold the boat against collapsing and to give the requisite strength to the structure.

To further maintain the boat in extended T adjustment, I have found it of advantage to employ the braces A and B. The braces- A as herein disclosed are positioned intermediate the length of the boat and each of said braces A consists of the sections 15 and 16 pivoted to an adjacent post or rib 2 and section of a stay S, respectively, said sections 15 and 16 having their adjacent ends pivotally connected and one of said sections as 15, being provided with an extension 17 terminating in an angular hook 18 adapted to engage with the second section 16 so that said brace A will be eflectively maintained in assembled adjustment.

Each of the braces B is of a structure substantially the same as has been set forth relative to the braces A except that instead of a section of said brace B being provided with a hook, a slidable ring is carried by one of the sections 19 adapted to coact with an extension 20 of a second section 21.

It is also preferred that the member let be held against accidental displacement through the medium of the flexible member 22 as illustrated in the drawings.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a boat constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A collapsible boat comprising two flexible side frames, the forward ends of said frames being pivotally connected, a flexible covering coacting with said side frames and having an intermediate free portion to afford the bottom and back of the boat when the frames are extended, and means for maintaining the frames in extended relation.

2. A collapsible boat comprising two flexible side frames, the forward ends of said frames being pivotally connected, a flexible covering coacting with said side frames and having an intermediate free portion to afford the bottom and back of the boat when the frames are extended, and cross members pivotally engaged with the lower portions of the frames and each comprising pivotally connected sections, the connected ends of the sections being adapted-to swing inwardly of the frames. I

i. A collapsible boat comprising two flexible side frames, the forward ends of said frames being pivotally connected, a flexible covering coacting with said side frames and having an intermediate free portion to afford the bottom and back of the boat when the frames are extended, cross members pivotally engaged with the lower portions of the frames and each comprising pivotally connected sections, and brace members coacting with the side frames and certain of said members. 5. A collapsible boat comprising two flexible side frames, the forward ends of said frames being pivotally connected, a flexible covering coacting with said side frames and having an intermediate free portion to afford the bottom and back of the boat when the frames are extended, means for maintaining the frames in extended relation, and a. brace member detachably engageable with the upper marginal portions of the frames;

6. A collapsible boat comprising two flexible side frames, the forward ends of said frames being pivotally connected, a flexible covering coacting with said side framesand having an intermediate free portion to afford thebottom and back of the boat when the frames are extended, means for maintainin the frames in extended relation, the covering extending around the connected ends of the frames and affording a pocket, and a. member insertible within said pocket. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses;

LEONARD L. MCGEE.

Witnesses:

LUOILE MINTON, GLADYS M. GILBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. I). 0; 

